A technological marvel -- the cochlear implant -- can give partial hearing to many profoundly deaf people. But the implant has sparked a surprising debate. Many in the deaf community view deafness as a culture with its own distinct language and identity, not a medical problem in need of remedy. Deaf people ask, why fix something if it isn't broken? The question disturbs many hearing parents of deaf children who see the implant as the only hope for their child to participate in the hearing/speaking world. Producer Loretta Williams explores the culture of deafness.

Program Credits

Speak Easy, Speak Not was
produced by
Loretta Williams. It aired as part of
making Connections, Science on
Soundprint, a special series funded
in
part by the National Science
Foundation.

Resources

Links:Hearing ExchangeA collection of resources and ideas on hearing loss including an interview with the Cochlear Corporation.